Your Magazine Vol. 2 Issue 3: November 2012

november

Kilian’s Favorite Blog Post:

Why Do Leaves Change Colors?

S

ometimes what we really need is to break away and try something new… a new favorite boutique, a new hairstyle, or even a brand new hobby. For Emily, our Asst. Editor in Chief, yoga is her latest escape from the mundane. Yes,

Olivia’s Favorite Tweet: @ivanecky: “A lot of things offend people, but not a lot of things spur people to moral action.”

shifting from upward to downward facing dog for an hour and a half is a way for her to clear her head and, as she says, “sweat it all out.” It just so happened that YourMag followed suit this month. No, the whole staff did not get together for one big staff Vinyasa-sesh, though Emily would probably love

Pete’s Favorite Tweet:

@eclarkginsberg: “I’ve been doing this thing where I try to push up my glasses when I’m not wearing them and instead I just poke myself in and around my face.”

that. This November issue is filled with articles about new experiences and triumphs. Whether it be giving a different type of boy the time of day, watching a new creepy television show featuring John Locke from Lost, or checking out the fashion trucks that have been popping up all over Boston.

We’ve even got a few fancy new features floating around— can you spot ‘em? So read on, and find something new to help you get through classes until thanksgiving!

Love Always, Kilian Webster and Emily Tannenbaum

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YOUR introduction

featured 7

The Reality of Fifty Shades Find out what naughty students hide in the depths of their dorm rooms, whips and chains perhaps?

17

Three Pieces Three Ways

24

So You Want to be a Novelist?

A quick style guide on how to wear 3 men’s basic pieces.

Make it happen in November (aka National Novel Writing Month) with these tips!

38

The Work of Ang Lee Charles Nash previews Life of Pi, Ang Lee’s highly anticipated adaptation of Yann Martel’s bestseller, and discusses his favorite films of Lee’s hefty ouvre.

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Editor-in-Chief Kilian Webster asst. editor emily Tannenbaum creative director Pete Ivanecky MANAGING EDITOR Olivia Jacobini BUSINESS DIRECTOR Elijah Clark-Ginsberg DESIGN EDITOR Katie Lohman PHOTO DIRECTOR Stephanie Fishbein HEAD STYLIST Emily Lacroix MARKETING MANAGER Reed Van Dyck YMtv DIRECTOR Lyndsay Cannon

romance Writers Daniel LeMar Ashley Juranich Kristine Ustas Jenny Hannigan Hannah Perrin Shannon Dwyer Mollie Coyne Shantal Erlich Sydney Lester Nathalie Nelles

Fashion Writers Elijah Clark-Ginsberg Haile Lidow Andrew Favorito Dinesh Mohnani Samantha Dupler Mika Nakano Ian Mofford Kaylan Scott Megan Kay Lola Bitton Victoria Hulbert Kelsey Drain Jennifer Ortakales Mollie Coyne Emily Lacroix

features Writers Beth Treffeisen Emily Labes Gina Brindisi Julia Higgins Anna Rose Pingeton Lindgren Matthew Mullen Frankie Olito

a&e Writers

ROMANCE EDITOR Claudia Mak FASHION EDITOR Valeria Navarro FEATURES EDITOR Christina Jedra Asst. Features Editor Nancy Valev A&E Editor Nick Johnston

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Miles Bowe Regina Mogilevskaya Jackson Birnbaum Cassie Cassard Hunter Harris Charles Nash Cedrine Sterit

Copy editors

Devan Norman Eric Gaudette Caitlyn Budnick Olivia Jacobini Morgan Metz Janella Angeles Megan Tripp Kelsey Perkins Alexia Kyriakopoulou

Photographers Kevin Sweeney Alex Fierro-Clarke Hannah Wallace Nick Hayes Brian Annis Mimi Vecchione Hope Kauffman

STYLISTS

Bonnie Ong Audrey Geiger Tubao Nguyen Kristen Brice Megan Nicholson Andrew Favorito Yu Qu Dinesh Mohnani Rhianna Reinmuth Alexis Cervantes Nikki Frangella

MARKETING

Maria Vivas Emily McClure Elise Mesa Jamie Iannace Rouming Zhao Olivia Martiniello Melanie McFadyen Megan Nicholson Virginia Johnson Jacob Greene

Layout design Claudia Mak Jacqueline Thomas Bekah Skopil David Galinato Adam Reynoso Megan Tripp Teresa Garigen Madison Fishman Tanya Wlodarczyk

Yourmag tv

Amanda Gomez Lindsay Gualtieri Ashley Juranich Hannah Perrin Terrena Scannell Chen Xu Virginia Johnson

YOUR introduction

romance 6 7 8 9 10 11

To Fling, or Not to Fling?

The Reality of Fifty Shades The Politics of Gay Dating I Ain’t No Skank!

Well Played Free Date Ideas

fashion 12 17 20 22 24 29

EDITORIAL - “Ink” 3 Pieces 3 Ways Fashion on the Go: Fashion Trucks DIY: Nail Art EDITORIAL - “Wild Things” Love Letter to Fur

30 32 33 34 36

So You Wanna Be a Novelist...

The Red Underdogs Places off the Beaten Path The Power of Film Pinterest Put to the Test

arts&entertainment 38 40 41 42 43 44 45

The Work of Ang Lee Lincoln / The Man with the Iron Fists 666 Park Avenue Rowling’s Wake / Womanthology Guerilla Girls Fighting Hip-Hop Homophobia The Playlist: Sound and Vision

contents

features

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to FLING or NOT to FLING Text // Sydney Lester, Shantal Erlich, Kristine Ustas

On one side of the hall is your floor mate with the serious boyfriend. He’s the kind of guy that wakes up early to get her favorite Starbucks drink before she’s awake. You can spot these two walking around the Commons, cracking jokes and giving each other a quick kiss before class. On the opposite side lives your floor mate with the casual dating mindset. It never seems like it’s the same boy coming in and out of the room, but she swears she’s having the time of her life. So, what’s the best dating option for college, traditional or casual?

Let’s

be real, college is nothing like high school; it’s fast paced. And how do we keep up? By doing things a littler faster. Casual dating is nothing short of a college dream because it allows lots of opportunity and little commitment.

Between your classes, meetings with editors, workouts, and essay writing, does anyone actually have any free time? Traditional dating requires meeting someone and creating enough interest to begin the tedious dating process. There are flowers and a mandatory five dates, stuffy movies, obligatory dinners, and overanalyzed text messages.

In reality, all you want to be doing is getting to the fun stuff. The “fun stuff” doesn’t even have to mean rolling around under the sheets; it’s the fun of just being together purely because you enjoy each other’s company. Causal dating and causal sex aren’t synonymous. How to form a relationship is purely your choice. There is no pressure, because if you aren’t enjoying yourself you can move along without emotional baggage.

The hardest part of traditional dating in a college setting is that it takes so long! It requires much effort and doesn’t always have that great of an outcome. For instance, you finally get the courage after three weeks in class to talk to the boy you’ve been eying. The conversation is your basic name/major/“I hate this class,” but you simply can’t get over how cute he is.

Next class, you talk again and the conversation develops slightly.

The following class, you exchange numbers. Then comes the all too common texting syndrome. You share some cute texts back and forth while every roommate, friend, and person available on Skype analyzes them. You finally manage to set up a dinner and movie date; it’s a bit awkward but “this is how it’s supposed to feel,” so you push on through. The movie is a great crutch because the conversation is starting to run slow, the thought of dinner after pains you. Maybe you’re an optimist and give it another shot later. First date jitters are a thing, right?

Perhaps you choose to skip this tedious process and keep things casual. You hang out together at impromptu times and actually get to know the person for who they really are (instead of what the dating guide tells them you should be). You get to experiment with different people and see what types of personalities you enjoy. And hey, if you find that they are really worth the time, then go for it. Who says you can’t have a serious relationship that started from a casual one?

Okay, hold it right there. Casual dating may sound like the college dream, but a traditional relationship is still what most people desire. College is a new playing field; everything is new, you don’t know anyone, and the pressure of meeting new friends and keeping up with your schoolwork can get overwhelming.

Traditional dating offers us romantics the possibility of stability and security, something much-needed in this college craziness.

Knowing the relationship protocol means that both people involved can take their time revealing their personalities and faults, because there is a mutual appreciation for safety and commitment.

In a casual relationship, it is expected that both parties lay everything out on the table as soon as the relationship begins. Nothing is defined or clarified, leaving the relationship unbalanced. One party compromises because the person they are involved with does not want to be “formally dating” or in a “Facebook official” relationship. That is a step that a lot of college students make sure not to get pressured into taking, because they want to enjoy these four years as much as they can.

People may say traditional relationships are boring, but they give us something casual dating can’t, or at least not for a while, the possibility of finding love. You will have someone who truly cares about you and not what you have to offer, and that’s the foundation for unconditional love. Look at it this way, while your friends are traipsing around Boston this winter in the freezing cold wearing miniskirts to catch some guys attention at a party, you could be curled up with your boyfriend or girlfriend drinking hot chocolate with no fear of a random person’s herpes in sight (ahem, boyfriend/girlfriend for the win!).

Still, you may think that college is not the time to get serious. For many college students, this is a time to experience unparalleled freedom and fun. Many people also come to find that fun and freedom can be applied to the traditional dating method. It makes sense to say that gaining adult experience through traditional dating can be very liberating; it spurs maturity and creates the possibility of understanding real friendship and love. It’s important to know that traditional dating doesn’t have to mean boring, and that dating does not close you off from freedom and excitement in college.

Queue the drumroll for the winner. I hate to tell you that we haven’t solved the never-ending question of which school of dating thought is better. It doesn’t look like any scientist, hopelessly romantic college girl, interpersonal relationships professor, or fortuneteller is on a path to the true discovery in the near future. What we do know is that college represents a diverse little subculture with some people looking to find that special someone, with others looking to find multiple special someone’s. For your next relationship, try something new. Or hey, keep it the same, because the only person who can tell you what’s right for you (luckily) is you. {6}

YOUR romance

the reality of FIFTY SHADES

Text // Hannah Perrin Photographer // Brian Lynch Model // Julia Libani

“Sticks and stones may break my bones, but chains and whips excite me,” these wise words of Rihanna are now in the minds of young people everywhere. From colleges offering classes about eroticism to actually taking part in the acts, BDSM is every where.

Many believe this fad started with the popularity of the Fifty Shades series by British author E.L. James. Yes I’ve read them, and while the books were poorly written, the sex is hot and the storyline is impossible not to fall in love with.

The reader is pulled into the dirty side of millionaire Christian Grey and imagines their own experiences with “kinky fuckery.” Recent college grad, Anastacia Steele has to fight

with her inner goddess and innocent conscience to figure out how much she can handle.

After reading the trilogy, I realized I had to to try it.

Although I am still looking for a willing (and preferably experienced with BDSM) partner, I have already made my list of hard and soft limits.

But the real question is: how far are you willing to go?

I took to the Emerson campus to inquire of their BDSM knowledge, and to find out if anyone knows what a Wartenberg pinwheel is.

Ally Meikle, sophomore, has also read the series and would be open to trying some light BDSM. “Handcuffs, tying up maybe, nothing that hurt,” says Meikle. “Light stuff.”

“I have been tied up before and I have been blindfolded,” says freshman Maddie RojasLynch. “I enjoyed it, I’m not going to lie.”

While she has only experienced light forms of bondage, Rojas-Lynch says she would be open to trying more intense forms of BDSM as long as she is comfortable with the person.

Like Rojas-Lynch, sophomore Ean Ryan is also open to trying some BDSM.

“I have not had that experience happen,” says Ryan.

“I would never initiate it, but I definitely think I would need a safe word. But yeah I would definitely push the boundaries a little bit.”

Although he is not a sadist, Ean Ryan admits he likes the idea of tying someone up.

“I think in the moment I would know what I would want, but I think I would rather tie someone up,” explains Ryan.

Freshman Josh Leon has been

practicing BDSM techniques since he was 16. He considers himself both a sadist (the derivation of pleasure as a result of inflicting pain, cruelty, degradation, or humiliation) and a masochist (the condition in which sexual or other gratification depends on one’s suffering physical pain or humiliation).

“It depends on the day,” explains Leon. “Some days I like to dominate and others I like to be the dominated.”

Leon says he is turned on by the BDSM lifestyle because it has a big trust factor.

“I think it’s such a fantasy because you only see it in some X-rated videos and so for me when I’m actually doing it, it’s like wow I’m actually making a fantasy come true, but also like how far is my partner willing to let me go and how much do they trust me so that I won’t kill them.”

I know what many of you are thinking: I must try this immediately. Although our dorm rooms are not equipped with Christian Grey’s “red room of pain,” there are still ways one can try BDSM in the dorm room.

Just make sure your roommate is out of the dorm for the night, find a partner you’re comfortable with and set up shop. You can try tying people up, blindfolding or even some extremes such as caning. We are not allowed candles, so burning is a no-go, but you can save that one for when you move off campus.

While BDSM sounds favorable to some Emersonians, there are also some students who find the idea revolting.

“I don’t think I would try anything because I don’t think it exemplifies a healthy relationship,” says sophomore Allison Singer.

Junior Riley Bourbon agrees saying, “Never say never, but probably not. It’s not really my scene.”

Whether you’re into it or not, BDSM is definitely making its way into the average person’s bedroom. Learn your facts, find your comfort level and try new things. Who knows, maybe chains and whips will excite you too.

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the gay politics of

DATING Text // Danny LeMar

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Aristotle once said, “Man is by nature a political animal.” Aristotle might have been surprised at how his political statement corresponds with modern romance. Men of our age prove to be either wild, predatory animals or cute, harmless pets. Yet those of us inclined to swoon toward the same sex seem to be burdened with certain stereotypes when it comes to our romantic relations, especially in college.

For the most part, there are two perceived political parties of homos. One is relationship oriented, a politically correct party, while the other is strictly sex, a politically erect party. One adheres to the rules of a typical romance – going out on dates, celebrating anniversaries, and waiting to have sex – and the other gets horizontal fast to test the physical qualifications of a potential candidate without an actual date.

I first observed this phenomenon last year as a shy, awkward freshman who fell down the wild Emerson rabbit-hole. I knew one guy who claimed over and over again that he was DTSD (down to settle down), yet avoided eye contact while he passed by me on many early morning walks of shame.

There was another guy I secretly crushed on, leaning on our one-degree of separation, his BFF, for my 411. She told me that he was keeping a degree of separation between him and all guys, abstaining from hook ups or sex in hopes of finding another traditional guy. And though these are just two guys out of the whole college, the whole world even, there was a clear difference.

Now, as a slightly less awkward sophomore, I harassed my not-straight network for their opinions on the politics of gay dating, getting feedback that a lot of guys were interested in long-term relationships. The answers I received included: “It would be great if I could find a stable guy who wanted a real relationship, the kind I want,” “I would settle down if I could find the right guy,” and my personal favorite, “Where are all of the good, genuine guys?”

However, these commitments to commitment were countered when some said that they were looking to hook up, and just hook up, with none of the messy aftermath. “I mean, I’m young,” one of my sources said. “I don’t want to be tied down to one guy when there’s a ton of others out there. I don’t want it to get boring.” Other’s answered along the same lines, lines that were clearly drawn to cross out commitment and in favor of chasing cute guys. They thought that by entering into monogamy, monotony would soon follow.

Different factors contribute to which group a guy falls into, one being when and how he came out. The previously mentioned guy who slept around had not been previously out before coming to college and even maintained that he was straight for a better half of the year. Emerson is an extremely welcoming place for self-conscious closeted guys, but after years of hiding who he really was, it was reflexive to keep up the façade. Conversely, the other guy I had indirectly learned about had been out since he was a tween.

Accepted by everyone he knew, he had been through the games and the pursuit, and now was ready to leave that behind for something sincere.

Keep in mind that Mr. Right-Now to one could be Mr. Right to another.

Another issue is how confident a guy is in himself. No matter the time or the place, we were all in that closet at one time, afraid of how others would judge us. A lot of people believe that we gays are beasts when it comes to the bedroom, and bashful when it comes to the real thing. Someone’s selfworth might not be as high as the next guy’s. In that respect, a guy might be overly self-assured in his charming capacity. A level of self-security could lead either to months of handholding or a one-night hit-it-and-quit-it.

It varies from gay to gay.

Of course, it isn’t fair to say that there are only two kinds of gays. Not only is it not fair, it would be reductive to say things were that plain and simple. It would not be reasonable to classify a guy into one group for his whole life based on precedence or reputation. Much like the political party system, there are a great number of groups that a guy could fall into. Man might be a political animal, but there’s no taming the gays. We are who we are, like whomever we like, and hope that they share our views, no matter what those views might be.

YOUR romance

I ain’t no SKANK!

I am always surprised whenever I hear someone call a girl a slut, or a skank, or a trashy hoe. It is almost never to her face, but that doesn’t matter. Like my professor says, “every word counts,” and words that punish someone for having sex create a negative environment for the parties involved.

I always assume that people should know better than to use words like that. But, like with the LGBT movement, sometimes people take a little while to catch on. I think one of the big reasons people haven’t realized it yet is because they see the argument coming from a very emotional place, and emotional arguments tend to be less convincing than logical ones.

However, slut-shaming can certainly be disputed in a logical way. When you think about it, words like slut and whore just don’t make any sense.

It’s a very real issue, and it hurts people. Most importantly, it takes power away from the individual; that’s really why it’s so degrading in the first place.

In order to understand why using words like ‘slut’ is in poor taste, we’ve got to understand the meaning of the word itself.

According to Wikipedia: The accepted denotative meaning is a sexually promiscuous woman[8] or “a woman of a low or loose character; a bold or impudent girl; a hussy, jade.”[9] These definitions identify a slut as a person of low character — a person who lacks the ability or chooses not to exercise a power of discernment to order their affairs, such as a cad, rake, or womanizer.

Saying that someone has low character because of how they choose to express their sexuality just doesn’t make any sense.

Character cannot be judged on such personal choices. If we make this type of judgment tolerable, we open the door to judge people for being homosexual, and we are working hard to close that door as it is. Furthermore, the word slut assumes that a woman is not using good judgment, or “exercising a power of

discernment” over their affairs. Just because you sleep with more than one person doesn’t mean you have bad judgment! It simply means you operate differently, and that’s okay.

Words like that take power away from women, not allowing them to make informed decisions based on what is best for them. No one is allowed to assume that someone is sleeping with someone else because they have low self-esteem, or because they got pressured into it, or because of any other reason for that matter. That’s not fair. Perhaps they just like sex! Whatever the reason, it is most certainly a personal one.

Slut-shaming is an oppressive method of teaching women that they shouldn’t be too sexually adventurous- or else. Patronizing a woman’s sexuality not only takes her power away from her, it makes her an object that can be controlled by others.

Think of it this way: calling someone a slut is just a fancy way of saying that they did something wrong. Well, what makes having sex wrong? If something is morally wrong, that usually means it hurts someone. Sex is shared between two people (or three or more- hey, no judgment). As long as said “slut” is not interfering with someone’s relationship, her choice does not affect- or include- anyone but her and the person she chooses to have sex with.

Words like that are harmful because they imply that there is a standard for how women should behave, when the truth is that there shouldn’t be. Women shouldn’t have to be punished for not meeting that invisible standard.

The unfortunate reality is that American society thinks sex is taboo. Sex is kept quiet and brushed under the table. Behaving in the wrong way sexually can affect a person’s reputation. How silly to think that a personal choice can be used against someone. Isn’t sexuality supposed to be a healthy expression of desire? Why not embrace it? We all love sex!

It’s not awkward at all, and it’s not a force to be

Text // Jenny Hannigan

controlled. Shunning something doesn’t make it go away, it only makes people uncomfortable talking about their concerns and boundaries.

That’s what connects slut-shaming to rape culture. Slut-shaming takes away a woman’s power as an individual, turning her into a pawn. When someone’s power is taken away, it’s easier for him or her to be taken advantage of. Assuming that a woman doesn’t use proper judgment when it comes to her sex life also takes away from the respect that society- and women themselves- have for their bodies. When respect is taken away, it puts women in the dangerous position to be raped or sexually abused. If words like slut and whore continue to find a place in our culture, then we are not giving women and their bodies the respect they deserve, thus creating a vicious cycle that doesn’t end favorably for anyone.

However, there is good news: word is being spread about slut-shaming in Boston!

In fact, this year there will be a march against Rape Culture and Gender Equality. The march is organized by the Boston Feminists for Liberation, or BFFL for short. Nikki Morris, an Emerson student who is a member of the BFFL, talks about the event.

“We have speakers coming in from groups like BARCC (Boston Area Rape Crisis Center) among others, as well as some courageous organizers who want to talk about their stories. And this march is big. It is broad in a lot of respects, but everything being discussed creates a rape culture. I think it is going to be a really powerful event.”

The event is a new version of the SLUTWALK, an event that took place in Boston last year, and still takes place in many large cities around the world. Let’s hope more events pop up like this- and remember, next time you want to call someone a slut, you should probably take a moment to think…or just shut your mouth.

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Text // Nathalie Nelles Illustration // Nathalie Nelles

Being a single twenty-something in the prime of my collegiate life, I have, naturally, over the years accrued a variety of sexual endeavors I hope to pursue sometime in the near future.

And don’t we all? Even if you don’t consider yourself one to go out in search of the next best lay, we all have our own sexual agendas that we strive to fulfill: that sexy barista who whips up your latte, smile beaming, each morning, whom you are almost certain hits on you every time. The classy young professional you’ve caught eyeing you on the T. Or even simpler than that, the cutie who constantly snowballs off your last comment in class, or the friend of a friend who you always spot across the room at parties. No matter who your sexual interests point to, you probably have somebody you’ve thought about late at night, when the lights are off and you’re at liberty to dwell upon the relationships that seem like a distant and far-fetched fantasy.

We’re young, hormone-driven, and just naive enough to seek out these so-called relationships just for their sexual value.

Personally, I like change. I’m proud to say that each guy I’ve been with has been different in some way from the last. High school was a high time for the jocks, one a competitive cross-country runner, one a football player. Sure, the masculinity of an athlete is admirable, but after a while you begin to see less jock and more jerk. Later I moved on to the counter-culture boys, first a EnglishAmerican who had a seemingly excessive inclination towards psychedelics and pain relievers, then the front-man of a C-list hardcore band who spent way too much time smoking weed and playing video games. Regardless, time passed and things changed, and I moved on from all of them, but still hold their contributions to my ongoing list of sexual encounters dear.

Once I got to college things got slightly more interesting.

My family bought property in France and my sister moved to London, opening up a sea of sexually charged European escapades ahead of me. To compound upon the facility of meaningless vacation-time hookups, it has become apparent through my ongoing travels that foreigners have a certain fascination with Americans that makes us quite the commodity when abroad. Back home there wasn’t necessarily a shortage of opportunities either, but an ongoing fling with a grade-A hipster brought about a lull in sexual activity that’s lasted up until, well, now.

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So now that I’m back on the market and seeking out my next interest, I’m scoping out what’s next in line on what I affectionately call my fucket list. I’ve been swooning over the Frank Ocean types for the past few months (congratulations gays, you’ve stolen the good ones once again) but have also been presented with what could be the easiest hook up in my entire collegiate experience, in which the guy, Monsieur Directeur/ Ecrivan de Filme has pretty much offered up his body for me to use at my own will and disposition. Jokingly I told him he could be my next victim, to which he replied, “You can’t victimize the willing.”

But what can I say, I like the chase. I like the thrill of meeting somebody new and having to learn how to play my cards just right. And while we all have our own deck of cards to play, it’s only natural that we, in this convoluted, hormone-driven game of cat and mouse we play, catch on to the cues given to us by the other, and pinpoint the game we should be playing with that deck in the first place. Is it coy and flirty, or casual and friendly? Should we try our hand at being mysterious, or rather be humorously unguarded, laying all our antics out on the table? And most importantly, at what point to we decide to throw in the deck and just go for it?

I’m still searching for my R&B-singing, smooth-talking, strong-jawed sex god, so keep your eyes peeled for me. If that falls through though, that endeavor may be backlisted in place of something more easily attainable (a girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do, right?), like the tattooed-up Brookline bartender I can’t stop undressing with my eyes, or the cute lit nerd who makes valuable in-class contributions and isn’t afraid to argue his point.

Or I suppose I could just sleep with film kid.

No matter which road I, or you, choose to go down, it’s important to remember that you should pursue these relationships for yourself and yourself alone. Pinpoint what compels you about you and make others see the value in it. So this month go out and find that next new exciting, scary, thrilling endeavor. Get dressed up and make an impression, or play it cool and blow ‘em away.

You’ve got your own deck of cards to work with, know them well, and learn to win at the games you play.

YOUR romance

free DATE ideas Text // Shannon Dwyer and Ashley Juranich

The semester is officially three months old. Know that hottie you’ve been eyeing? It’s time to be confident and ask them out on a date. Once they say yes, reality will slowly start to sink back in when you realize you’re a broke college student. Don’t panic! These free date ideas will not only show your date an amazing time, but will also help prevent your wallet from shrinking.

Do you enjoy critiquing art? The Museum of Fine Arts (MFA) is the perfect place to take your girl or guy on a date. Travel the world together within one day and see different forms of art from Asia, Africa, Europe, and America. Grab your date’s hand, and stroll through, and talking about different pieces. You’ll be surprised at how hot art can be.

Just because you live in Boston doesn’t mean you can’t be a tourist for a day, and enjoy the local architecture.

Go on a walk and stop at the Christian Science Center,

known as one of the most romantic architectural buildings.

Another romantic location is under the Arch at the Boston Harbor Hotel. It is most romantic at nighttime when the lights reflect off the water. Grab dessert and sit under the arch, while getting to know each other. There is nothing more romantic than sharing ice cream by the water.

Going to the Boston Public Librar y in Copley Square would definitely be a different kind of date. Show each other your favorite books, and go through the movie collection. The library is also a great place to people watch and get a good laugh. Try to stay quiet while sitting close and whispering back and forth, and then you two might get close enough for a smooch.

Now that the average movie ticket is around nine dollars, a date to the movies can be expensive. Add in the snacks and going out requires more than one trip to LB’s ATM. We have a solution for you! Many movie companies screen new releases a week or two before they open, and with some searching you can find free passes to these screenings all over Boston. Websites such as gofobo.com and filmmetro.com are great places to find tickets. Follow @MAScreenings on Twitter for your entire free movie screening news!

Amid the hustle and bustle of city life the Esplanade is a peaceful spot for thinking, reading, walking… and dating! Grab a blanket and a hottie, and your good to go!

Watching the sunset from the dock is always enjoyable, or if you’re feeling playful check out the playground (they have a zip line- hello, you have to go!). Bring some food and have a little picnic- it’s waterfront dining for free!

Not in the mood to explore outside? How does aconcert sound as a date? How about a FREE concert?

Use Eventbrite.com to find free tickets to shows and events around Boston. They even have an app! You can score free tickets to a glamorous after party for Boston Fashion Week from this site. Imagine lounging around in a high-end salon on Newbury street sipping wine amongst fashion designers and models. It’s a dream date. This is the best way to stay informed about what’s going on around the city, and it’s FREE! You cannot ask for much more in life people!

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wild THINGS

Photography // Mimi Vecchione Models // Taylor Smith, Julia Claire Pincus, Carson Brakke, & Alex Frapech

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YOUR fashion

All Saints Tri-tone sweater

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All Saints two tone mohair coat, Crush black pants, All Saints bone necklace

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YOUR fashion All Saints sequined dress, collar necklace out of closet

Crush orange sweater dress

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All Saints blue and gold structured dress, All Saints Brown Chino

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3

YOUR fashion

PIECES and 3 ways to wear them

Photography//David Galinato

Scarf

Text//Dinesh Mohnani

The leaves are falling, and our closets are turning into armies of black and grey.

Now who said that we have to tuck all our color away. If there’s one indispensable accessory that people are going to notice this season, its your scarf. And yes, men can rock them too!

If you’re thinking of buying one, go for something bright. In the bitter cold, a colorful scarf is all you need to inject a little style and fun into your outfit. You can wear a scarf wit anything, and the best part is, you can use the same one over-and-over again. Throw one over your jacket, or tuck it beneath your coat. Tie it to keep you warm or drape it as an accessory.

The Casual Look

Once Around - Drape the scarf around your neck then loop it around, leaving the ends hanging from your shoulders; tighten or loosen the loop depending on the weather. This is a simple tie that looks best with a shirt or sweater. Keep the rest of your outfit simple, so its not completing with the scarf. You can loosen it up, and wear it in the summer as well.

The Preppy Look (mustard pants and grey cardigan)

Parisian Knot - Take the scarf and fold it in half, drape it around your neck then insert the ends through the loop, and pull them through. This is a quick and simple knot that works best tucked into a cardigan, blazer or coat.

The Cocktail Look (jeans and black sweater)

Classic Flip - Drape the scarf around your neck then flip one end over your shoulder and leave the other end hanging. This is the classic scarf look that can be worn over anything. Try it the next time you wear a suit to add a pop of color.

Now guys, don’t get too complicated with tying your scarves: keep it simple and classy.

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Blazer

Text//Ian Mofford

The suit blazer, this autumn’s must-have item, easily incorporates itself into bundled-up looks for chilly days and casual, open looks for those delightfully unexpected Indian summer days. No matter how you choose to wear it, the suit blazer will be, without a doubt, one of the most versatile members of your wardrobe. When it comes to the styling of your blazer, there are three main directions most men tend to take it in: everyday street wear, business casual, and formal.

Easy Street

In order to maintain a level of style with your casual wear, it’s important to play with colors and silhouettes. Starting with the navy blue blazer, I added a brightly colored graphic t-shirt, a pair of fitted, light-wash denim and bright orange sneakers. While the blazer is traditionally a formal piece of men’s wear, it adds an extra level of style to this otherwise fairly simple outfit. The sleeves of the blazer are rolled up, a few accessories are added and our model is ready to accomplish his day to day tasks.

Don’t Be a Business Casualty

In order to have a successful business casual look you must take the traditional formal silhouette (blazer, button-up shirt, tie, dress pants, and leather dress shoes) and incorporate traditionally casual pieces and concepts (colored denim, boots, eccentric color combinations, etc.). In this outfit, the suit blazer serves as a formal piece. Although the denim is maroon, it’s a solid wash and there are no visible signs of distressing or tears. This is then paired with a robin-egg blue button up under a quirky, burnt terracotta colored sweater. Once finished off with tan dress boots, this look has the perfect blend of business structure and casual creativity.

A Simple Formality

Formal outfits for men haven’t fundamentally changed in the last 200 years. While the colors, cuts, styling and fabrics have evolved, a standard formal outfit for men is practically universal knowledge. Keeping with this, I paired the blazer with more classic pieces. Exclusively using earth neutrals on the bottom (the brown Oxford shoes and the khaki colored corduroy pants), allows the top half to contain all of the color. The navy blazer and the blue and white striped shirt serve as a subtle backdrop for the bold, tri-colored striped tie. Sporting this classic, formal look, our model is dressed to impress a crowd of spectators or a conference room of professionals.

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YOUR fashion

Vest

Text//Elijah Clark-Ginsberg

A down vest is the ultimate fall layering piece: warm, stylish, and super versatile.

Throw it over your gym clothes or use it to stay toasty in formalwear– a good down vest will do the job whether you’re slumming it or suited up. Whether you put a vest over sweats and a thermal to go to the gym or nestle it under your suit jacket for a big night out, you’ll look sharp.

Easy, Sea-Breezey

For an effortless everyday look that’s oh-so-Beacon Hill, toss on a down vest over an oxford and chinos. Top it off with loafers and an L.L. Bean tote bag and you’ll be almost too New England to function. Bonus points if your tote is filled with freshpicked apples, salt stained boat shoes, and maybe a small dog or two.

Dress Smart; Look Smart

For something that will look a bit more at home on Harvard Yard, layer your vest on top of a sweater, a button-down, and a sharp repp stripe tie. Dress it down with jeans and brogue boots or up with wool trousers and wingtips– how wonderfully Ivy League. This outfit can be remixed ad infinitum: try different sweaters (maybe a nice cable knit), different shirts (gingham or plaid, anyone?), and different ties– or maybe no tie at all.

Adventure Ready

If you’d rather get away from civilization altogether, a down vest can be just as rugged as it is refined. Put it over a plaid shirt, some jeans, and a pair of well-worn Bean boots for a look so outdoorsy that wood will chop itself whenever you’re in the vicinity.

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fashion on the go: Text//Victoria Hulbert Photography//Kathleen Collins

The city of Boston is on the fringe of a retail shopping innovation.

Taking note of the recent and rapid success of gourmet food-trucks, Fashion trucks have popped up in major cities across the country in the last few years.

Bringing trends and glamour directly to the streets, directly to the customer, fashion trucks provide for an idiosyncratic and intimate shopping experience, one that large chains and large malls have so far failed to provide.

Setting up shop literally in the back of a 30 foot trailer with items ranging from men’s and women’s shoes and apparel to homemade and vintage accessories, these operators have been fighting for the last few years to gain some street cred among shoppers.

However, it’s not just the hoards of fashion consumers they need the attention of. Current Boston law requires that mobile retail operations move 200 feet every five minutes. Permits for retail trucks do not yet exist in Boston.

Emerson College’s own alum Derrick

Cheung, who has won numerous accolades and gained much recognition for his own fashion truck Green Street Vault, is asking people to sign his online petition at change. org in hopes that the 6 month process to create new permits can be sped up.

While city officials work to straighten out a licensing program, most trucks have found a compromise at SoWa market in the South End and other similar festivals and events. During Boston’s fashion week in the first week of October, trucks were also able to park on City Hall Plaza.

During Fashion week, I took some time to head over to City Hall Plaza for a visit and was very pleased with my first impression of Boston’s very own mobile stores. Each truck operator I met struck up a conversation as soon I as climbed inside, completely devoid of the usual snobby and cold attitude you often find in smaller retail stores. It’s obvious these retailers are fighting for a position on Boston’s streets simply because they love what they do.

Have at it Boston shopaholics!

Other Boston-based Fashion trucks you need to check out!

The Fashion Truck Lola’s Urban Vintage Sneakerbox Haberdash Vintage Artichoke the Brkfst Clb Boston Sports Apparel Co.

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YOUR fashion

FASHION TRUCKS

Q and A with Green Street Vault Founded?

In 2010 by Derrick Cheung, Emerson College grad, during his E3 Entrepreneurship Course.

Launched in 2011 with partner Howard Travis What?

Men’s apparel; street and skate brands How did you get started in the fashion truck business?

I was a part of the Emerson Entrepreneurship program in 2011. My initial idea was to open a sneaker store, that idea transformed into a mobile retailer over the course of the year.

What are your views on the future of fashion trucks?

I think there is definitely growth in the category. Early in 2012, a study was conducted that stated there were 62 fashion trucks or mobile retailers in the US. From the research I’ve done, I expect the category to at least double by next year.

What do you think is so great about them?

Mobile retailers are versatile. They can function as standalone shops with one highlighted brand or multiple brands. They can also be used as memorable promo vehicles, and effective

sales vehicles.

The other amazing thing about mobile retail is that they are fundamentally mobile. I could operate in Boston for the summer, and migrate to the south or the west coast for winters. Seasonality is definitely an issue within this category, especially in a city like Boston. There are ways, however, to continue operations by relocation or managing multiple trucks at once.

What do you think they contribute the community and city of Boston?

Shopping is simple. And shopping from a truck is simple. We aren’t reinventing the wheel here with this concept. Selling wares out of trucks has been around forever. What we do bring as fashion trucks, however, is a sense of innovation and newness around the traditional ‘shopping’ model. Customers have the chance to enter the truck, interact with knowledgeable employees and shop in a new, convenient, and intimate way.

The concept of mobile retail is still new in America. Many still have yet to experience shopping on a fashion truck. It’s still early enough for Boston to be first in mobile retail legislation and

therefore can claim a first.

What do you think the best way to get more people aware of the growing trend of fashion trucks?

Creating legislation that protects and supports fashion trucks.

How can the city of Boston help the success of fashion trucks?

Offer parking spaces that are allotted for fashion trucks only, and create a permit that supports fashion trucks and helps them grow.

Right now, they’re testing a program on City Hall Plaza that allows fashion trucks to operate on the plaza. The best, most effective the city can do right now is listen. Listen to the participating trucks, local businesses, people who live nearby, and anyone who is passionate enough to speak up about it. Is the program working? Are the trucks making money? Is it a safe method of shopping? Are they an inconvenience? Are any individuals complaining? I’ve been in business a year with my truck. I know the concept works and there are waves to be made. I’m just not sure Boston knows that yet.

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diyour mag nail

ART Text // Emy LaCroix & Samantha Dupler Photos // Samantha Dupler

Nails are your easiest accessory and best fashion friend. A quick coat of paint ups your chic level in minutes. It lasts a week or more and makes any look just a little more special.

Nail painting has been around forever, but actually started as a sign of status for men! Babylonian remains have been found of rich men with nails covered in kohl, along with primitive manicure sets. These date back to 3200 BC! After that, nail dying was all the rage. In 3000 BC, rich men and women combined all- natural oils and flowers to make a paste that one needed to soak in for hours to achieve the desired effects. In Britain in the 1800’s, nails tinted with rose oil showed great hygiene.

Flappers were the first to use modern day polish in the 1920’s in France. Famous makeup artist Michelle Menard adapted the shiny lacquer of expensive cars for use on fingernails. In each historical use, nail polish has always signified status, and still gives off that chic, polished attitude today.

You don’t need to pay thirty bucks for a manicure to look fabulous or fancy. Drug stores sell all kinds of paint includingfrom shiny, matte, suede, sparkles, clear, and every color of the rainbow so you can achieve your perfect look at home.! And with the new trend of designer nails that includewith everything from sparkly embellishments to text graphics and delicate flowers, it’s more fun than ever to experiment for yourself!

Hundreds of blogs are devoted to nail art and some of them can get pretty crazy. While you may want kittens running across your nail beds or crystal encrusted claws, we like to take the subtle approach: to a clean, classy look that can go from class to work and then out to a party seamlessly. For a versatile look, we would suggest a simple French tip with some interesting colors, a cool graphic design or, like we will show you here, a pretty floral look.

Nail art can look complicated, but even if you lack a steady hand, you can add some flair to your tips.

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YOUR fashion

how to make your own

here’s what you need:

1 2 3

2-4 different nail polish colors, top coat, a tool with a thin pointy end (toothpick/safety pin/mechanical pencil), flat-back nail gems (optional)

First, choose a base polish for your nails and a complementing color for your design. A black base with a white flower looks avant-garde and edgy, while a soft cream color with a lilac blossom is sweet and classic. For a pattern that really pops, try choosing two colors that are on the opposite ends of the color spectrum.

3

Paint your nails with your base coat and make sure they’re completely dry before moving on. Don’t use a top coat on top of the color yet; save that until after you’ve created your flower.

Take a toothpick, safety pin, mechanical pencil or any other tool with a thin pointy edge. Dip the tip of the tool into the design color and carefully dab five dots of polish onto your nail in the shape of a circle. Count out loud three seconds, and then gently drag each dot into the “circle” with the toothpick tip, so they leave a small tapered trail of polish behind. It should look like a small hibiscus flower!

4 4 5 6

Next, choose another nail polish to use an accent color and dab a small drop in the center of the flower with your toothpick. A gold or silver polish can add some glam, while a yellow or white polish can keep things a bit more natural. If you have them, tiny flat-backed nail gems are a great alternative, too!

To create little leaves on the sides of your flower, repeat the same steps you took to make the flower petals, only with a different color.

Once you’ve made as many flowers as you’d like, seal your designs with a top coat.

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CRUSH Cropped black sweater Neon necklace

ink

photography // Stephanie Fishbein

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models // Sharon Shao & Chris Vo

media effects // Pete Ivanecky

YOUR fashion

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YOUR fashion

CRUSH Neon necklace Navy maxi skirt All Saints Black satin dress

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YOUR fashion

my love letter to Text // Haile Lidow Photography // Zeynep Abes

I love animals. I am totally one of those people who perpetually has a picture of her dog as the background on her iPhone. If you look through my photo album, probably more than half of them are of my puppy. Spend about an hour with me, and you’ll most likely hear me talking about something funny that Patches did. I’m obsessed, and it’s not even just my own pets, it’s pretty much all animals.

A loophole to a controversial issue.

But, there is a common misconception that anyone wearing fur doesn’t give a shit about animals. It’s just simply not true. Animal products are everywhere, leather and down being the most commonly used, sometimes without people even realizing it. Not to mention that almost everyone eats meat. Yes, there is a vegetarian movement that seems to be getting larger and larger, but the vast majority of people eat meat three meals a day without even thinking about it. And maybe none of these are okay, but I think the reason fur is hated the most is because it is so obviously part of the animal. But that doesn’t make it any more or less part of the animal than leather in shoes, down in comforters, coats, and pillows, or meat

in food.

I love my grandmother’s sable stole. I love If anything, the meat that we eat my baby pink rabbit fur jacket, my shearling is much more a part of the animal than fur lined leather gloves, and the white mink will ever be. accents on my black wool winter coat.

And fur is also a huge part of an One of my favorite parts of moving from extremely relevant art form: fashion.

California to Boston was being able to wear As Anna Wintour once said in fur without looking quite so ridiculous. response to PETA, “Fur is part of fashion

But, this is Emerson. and [Vogue] will continue to report on it

It has obviously become less as long as that is the case.” No one can and less acceptable to wear fur anywhere argue this point. Fur is seen every single nowadays, but Emerson, being as liberal as year in the fall runways and, regardless of it is (which is one of my favorite parts about the protests against it, is still very much it), may be a little bit more anti-fur than the relevant in the fashion scene. average place. Yes, we have a great fashion Maybe this shouldn’t be the case, scene, but we also have a great group of but it is. Maybe in decades to come fur will activists that may not be so happy when be taboo, illegal even. But it isn’t right now. they see fur

There is a reason why fur was a walking down Boylston. huge part of our wardrobe for thousands

And I respect these people that of years: fur is beautiful, and most stand up for animal rights; I can understand importantly, warm. It was a standard part why they don’t wear fur. Unfortunately, I of anyone’s closet, a necessity really. Now love it too much to stop. But at the same that we have developed other ways to keep time, I never buy new fur. For one, it’s ourselves warm, it is no longer a necessity. crazy expensive, and two, it’s also not But it’s still beautiful. directly supporting the industry. It’s a I think I will always love fur. I way to recycle the past without giving the will always love that first day in fall when thumbs up to produce more of the product. it’s cold enough to wear my fur vest. I will

always love visiting vintage boutiques and trying on a coat from previous eras where fur was more accepted.

So if you don’t wear fur, more power to you. I respect what you stand for.

But, call me superficial, call me an animal killer—because neither is true—I’ll keep wearing it!

But, I also love fur.

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so you want to be a NOVELIST…

the national NOVEL WRITING MONTH challenge Text // Nancy Valev

So you want to write a novel.

As a writer, you have a great story to tell and a talent for telling it. In your mind, a brilliant idea has begun to emerge. It becomes your ultimate undertaking to get it down. Hunched over at your desk, bed, floor, or wherever, you begin feverishly getting down all that you can. The problem?

There comes an unexpectedly brief lapse in your inspiration, which is long enough to have you second-guessing all that you’ve written. Frustrated, but promising to return to it, you tuck it away into your dusty folder, beside the 53 other unfinished pieces that you will get to “one day.”

This is but one of the defining struggles writers face in pursuit of their art. Luckily, for all writers who need that push to start on that novel that’s been resting on their fingertips, there is now a chance to release it.

November 1st marks the first day of National Novel Writing Month, or as the program playfully dubs itself, NaNoWriMo. This is an online program that takes an exciting seatof-your-pants approach to tackling that grand novel. After registering for free, participants begin writing on November 1st and must produce 50,000 words (roughly 175 pages) by midnight on November 30th.

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Due to the time constraint, it is about the quantity, not the quality.

This encourages writers to make mistakes and push through, so they can get to the end to create a base for their masterpiece. As Colson Whitehead notes in his New York Times article, “How to Write,” writers tend to get caught up in their trivial details and lose sight of the big picture, making it almost impossible to complete their project. NaNoWriMo is set up to prevent writers from falling into this very trap.

So how does it work? All you have to do is go on to www.nanowrimo.org to register (for free). Once a member, you create a profile and begin planning and posting ideas about your novel.

The website has countless forums participants can visit to ask questions, get to know other writers, exchange ideas, or bring up any forms of interesting conversation that can serve as inspiration. Writers can write in any writing software they please, from which they can upload their work on the site to track progress and get feedback throughout the month.

To be added to the official list of winners, you must reach the 50,000-word mark by midnight of November 30th. Everyone receives a winner’s certificate and an official

“Winner” web badge you can post on your blog or any other social media outlet. It is not so much about the prizes as it is the admirable feat of completing a novel.

It really is just a fun way to get you up and going on your work.

Writing a novel in 30 days does sound pretty daunting. But it is not impossible! Here are a list of tips compiled from past participants and novelists on the beautiful challenges of writing:

Tips •Try to write every day. Remember that if you can’t, that’s okay! Weekends are great for catching up.

•Set weekly word count targets.

Don’t hesitate to go beyond your targets - a few extra words never hurts.

•Create outlines when you get lost in your work.

•Don’t edit your work during the process. That’s what December is for.

•Use everyone and everything that has happened to you for inspiration.

•Create your perfect writing playlist.

YOUR features (See side panel for suggestions) •Stock up on tasty snacks.

•There should be a quality-brewed cup of tea/coffee at your side at all times when you’ve entered NaNoWriMo World.

•Find your right space. Create a cozy and creativity-inspiring environment where you can comfortably write.

Ambiance is so important!

•Try envisioning yourself as one of your favorite classic writers banging away at an ancient typewriter.

A little imagination and pretending can only help!

•Tell everyone you know about what you’re doing. It’s great for support and whenever motivation runs out.

•Let the novel takes its own course.

Don’t hold back!

•Get a non-human writing companion.

This can be anything from a teddy bear to a fairy figurine to a Pez character to keep you company and serve as a lucky charm.

•Get up and stretch every once in a while. Get those creative juices flowing.

•Block social media outlets. You can download the “SelfControl” application and set a specific amount of time to block access to a list of websites.

•Set realistic time and word count deadlines - and meet them! It’s obvious but needs to be said: have fun or it’s not worth it.

•The most important thing to remember is that you are doing this for yourself. Be honest, be bold, and werk.

You are a writer and an Emersonian after all, so you’re already halfway there.

NaNoWriMo playlist Epic movie soundtracks and classical masterpieces make for great literary inspiration 1. "Doll Helen" Jane Long 2. "Wordsworth’s Ridge" Sufjan Stevens 3. "Svefn-g-englar" Sigur Rós 4. "Lovegood" Alexandre Desplat 5. "The Music Box Angel" Michele McLaughlin 6. "Crossing the Bridge" Blood Diamond Soundtrack

Words From an Emersonian Who Tried: “My experience was a complete and utter failure! I had outlined my ‘novel’ all before the month of November, down to the T, but then once the month came around I think I wrote maybe 12 pages of it. I attribute my failure to the fact that I was in school, had papers to write, etc. Honestly, I think the idea of JulNoWriMo (July novel writing month) is much better. People have a lot more time in the summer to sit down and write a novel. But who knows... maybe that’s the idea behind NaNoWriMo... attempting to write an entire novel in your normal, daily life.”

– Kilian Webster

7. "The Approaching Night" Philip Wesley 8. "The Poet Acts" The Hours Soundtrack 9. "Morning Passages" The Hours Soundtrack 10. "Greensleeves" Various Artists 11. "Snow Angels" Snow Falling on Cedars Soundtrack 12. "The Girl with Flaxen Hair" Claude Debussy 13. "Clair de Lune" Claude Debussy 14. "Rhapsody in Blue" George Gershwin 15, "Autumn" Antonio Vivaldi 16. "Contrapunctus 9 alla Duodecima" Johann Sebastian Bach 17. "Old Souls" Inception Soundtrack 18. "One Simple Idea" Inception Soundtrack 19. "The Antique Shop" Wolfman Soundtrack 20. "Ink and the Storytellers" Ink Soundtrack

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the RED underdog Text // Matt Mullen

I

n the wake of the elections, lively political debate and discussion has imbued the national dialogue.

Here at Emerson, we are an incredibly specialized collection of artists, but things are no different.

Lying in the fringes of the Emersonian society is a group that diverges slightly from the rest: meet the Emerson Republicans.

The group was founded last year when Paul Almeida, currently a sophomore political communication major, decided there was not enough Republican presence on campus. The organization is still small but has big ambitions. According to Almeida, the club’s chair, the Emerson Republicans aim to broaden the sphere of discourse and foster a more well-rounded student community.

“I thought it was strange that there wasn’t anywhere for me to go to express some of my more conservative viewpoints,” Almeida says. “The political dialogue on campus was completely one-sided, and as a college that prides itself on its communication department, it’s almost embarrassing seeing such a lack of political discourse on campus.”

Current junior and fellow political communication major Tanya Flink became treasurer when the club was founded and was overjoyed at the prospect of finally

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having an outlet for conservative dialogue.

“As a Republican on campus, I am often met with confrontation from the more liberal student body, and although I do not let that stop me from sharing my opinion, it is nice to have an outlet where I can speak freely and have people actually support my ideas,” Flink says. As of last year, the club had a membership of only seven students, but Flink and Almeida say that the club is not intimidated by their liberal peers.

One anonymous student states that the Emerson Republicans are “an oxymoron.” It can seem that the GOP’s values and those at Emerson often don’t align.

For example, Emerson was voted the number one LBGT-friendly school by the Princeton Review in 2012, but the Republican Party is known for its condemnation of same-sex marriage over the years.

“Many students at Emerson think negatively of Republicans because of the stereotypical stance on social issues,” Flink said. “However, the members of EmReps are fairly moderate when it comes to social issues.”

The Emerson Democrats, known as the EmDems, are a more established organization with a heartier membership. They are a steadfast presence on campus, according to freshman member Avery Cohen.

“I didn’t even know there was a Republican club on campus,” says Cohen. “But I like that there is; it helps balance the Democratic voice.”

Almeida and the club also aim for bipartisanship. “Just last semester EmReps and EmDems teamed up to get together a bipartisan speakers panel to discuss the economy,” Almeida says. With the current

elections sweeping Boston and the nation, the Emerson Republican club has held debate-watching parties and voter registration drives.

A distillation of the groups’ ambitious goals, the Emerson Republican’s Facebook page simply states: “Our hope is that all students at Emerson can find a home and feel welcome.” With its message of camaraderie and pride, the organization, small as it is now, may be one to look out for this year among a sea of political debate.

YOUR features

places off the

BEATEN PATH

Text // Frankie Olito

Photography // AP

2. Coolidge Corner Theatre

Since the Lowe's movie theater is so close to campus, many students choose to see movies at that venue. However, the Coolidge Corner Theatre in Brookline offers an entirely different movie watching experience. Instead of mainstream movies, this theatre showcases independent films. The theatre is decorated with art and décor that catches the eye.

Jamie Bradley, a sophomore marketing communication major, says she went for the atmosphere.

“The aura of the place is amazing,” she says. “I would go again just to be inside that theatre.”

Admission is $10.

4. Nira Rock

Many fitness enthusiasts on campus go to the Fitness center, the Boston Common, or The Esplanade to get their sweat on. However, Jamaica Plain offers an entirely new exercise experience. With rock climbing, bike trails, and other nature walks, this is a perfect spot for an outdoorsy person hoping to get fit. At Nira Rock, there is also an orchard, a meadow, and other types of natural beauty. At Nira Rock, you can find a natural beauty in the middle of a bustling metropolis.

1. Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum

Most Emerson students flock to museums like the Museum of Fine Arts, the Museum of Science, and the New England Aquarium, but the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Fenway area has so much to offer. Isabella Stewart Gardner's home was preserved for years as a museum. The gorgeous house is placed on a courtyard, while artifacts and art on the inside.

Christian Bergren-Aragon, a sophomore journalism major, says he is impressed by the museum.

“The fact that a women's house has been preserved for all these years, and it continues to function as she intended is amazing,” he says.

Admission is $5 with a current student ID.

3. Sugarbowl Cafe

Why would students travel all the way to Dorchester for ice cream when they can buy it at Ben and Jerry's or get it for free at the dining hall? They'd make the trek because of the atmosphere and history of this cafe. The Sugarbowl Cafe is an ice cream parlor like no other.

This store was an old antique shop, and it still shows. With dark floors, stained-glass décor, and wrought-iron tables, it is easy to feel like you are in the past. The cafe also offers sandwiches, coffee, and espresso.

Prices vary between $2-$6.

5. The Mary Baker Eddy Library

The Boston Public Library is accessible and a great venue for Emerson students. However, The Mary Baker Eddy Library in Boston offers so much more. With exhibits like the Hall of Ideas, Quest Gallery, and Impressions on Paper, this library/pseudo-museum will interest anyone with a curiosity about history. One of the most popular exhibits is the Mapparium, a three-story globe that you can walk through, so it seems that you’re standing in the center of the world.

Admissions is $6.

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the POWER of FILM Text // Julia Higgins Photography // Associated Press

On July 2, 2012, filmmaker Nakoula Basseley Nakoula posted the short film, Muhammad Movie Trailer, to Youtube, under the pseudonym of “Sam Bacile.” Just two months later, the video went viral (receiving just under 5,000,000 views at press time). On September 11, 2012, the US ambassador to Libya, J. Christopher Stevens, was murdered in a violent act of protest against the Muhammad-mocking film.

The short web trailer, most frequently referred to as Innocence of Muslims, garnered global attention as a result of its sensational “anti-Islam” message, wherein the Muslim prophet Muhammad was defaced and made to look like a religious playboy.

This scandalous depiction enraged the Muslim community, and demonstrated the tangible power filmmakers have across the world.

With a single 14-minute video, the individuals behind the Innocence of Muslims created a melting pot of impassioned anger, savage protest, and barbaric crime within people. Throughout the month of September, more than 50 people lost their lives across the Middle East, as aggressions resulting from the film raged on. Tensions between the U.S. government and Middle Eastern countries exploded in a hailstorm of accusations and demands for justice from Muslim citizens. This chain of events all stemmed from a single short film, begging the question: just what is the magnitude of influence filmmakers have throughout the world?

“Filmmakers have the power to shape the ideas of the public,” said freshman film major Wes Sanchez. “If you do it

correctly, you can inspire someone to make something fantastic, or change their life drastically. [With film] you can help someone through their troubles, and you can get a point across to a large audience about something controversial, or some current event.”

When done “incorrectly,” however, the devastation of such results can be plainly seen, as it was after Innocence of Muslims.

Today, almost anyone can be a “filmmaker.” With the introduction of flip cameras in 2006, the iPhone in 2007, and other such portable and (relatively) inexpensive filming equipment, people all over the world have gained the ability to create video content of any nature, whether it be damaging or uplifting. With this increase in accessibility to film gadgetry, it’s not surprising to see a rise in filmmakers’ influence as well.

Innocence of Muslims illustrated the harmful effects amateur films can have on society; using only simple Youtube broadcasting, the video managed to cause mass devastation.

Films such as Kevin MacDonald’s Life in a Day, however, illustrates the highly positive potential of film, which can be incredibly helpful in bringing awareness to lesser-known topics.

Through hundreds of individually submitted Youtube clips, Macdonald, the director, crafted an illuminating video based on the daily lives of people across the globe. From the shores of the Pacific to the coral reefs of Australia, the film was eye-opening in its ability to show the world the diversity it is fully submerged in. The film, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2011, drew such significant public attention that Youtube put the entire 95-minute piece on its website for free viewing.

“....what is the magnitude of influence filmmakers have throughout the world?”

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YOUR arts & entertainment

The recent anti-Islam propaganda brings into question the power of filmmakers.

KONY2012 also illustrated the positive potential of film, though the creator of the movement, Jason Russell, lost much of his credibility after having a sudden bout of unclothed craziness.

Before his indiscretion and the intense media scrutiny the film later faced, the video spread across social networking sites like wildfire, gathering over 93,000,000 views at press time. The effectiveness and power of the film’s overall message gave people around the world a glimpse into an intense ongoing African conflict - a conflict much of the civilized world may not have otherwise known.

In comparison to amateur film producers, professional filmmakers of the “Hollywood” variety generally have even more power within society, as they can more expertly and artistically shed light upon many of the problems facing the world. In 2004 , Morgan Spurlock made history with his documentary, Super Size Me, which explored the toxic effects of a strictly-McDonalds diet. Spurlock’s film gave an eye-opening look into the fast food industry and illuminated McDonald’s’ deceptive behavior which involved cheating customers out of accurate nutritional facts. Super Size Me brought the American epidemic of obesity into the spotlight, and led to a closer examination of the unhealthy nature of American lifestyle. In this instance, a filmmaker played a crucial role in society as a harbinger of necessary change and information.

Feature films can also do a major part in shedding light on the lesser-known plights of others. The 2009, the Iranian film, No One Knows About Persian Cats, gave an in-depth look into daily

Iranian life through a colorful plot and examined the struggles the Iranian populace faces under militaristic rule. Though the strict regime of Iran is not a secret throughout the world, the opinions of the populace are generally unknown, making this movie a telling tale.

In addition to being information gatherers, filmmakers also serve as entertainers to the world, using their various ranks of influence to bring happiness in times of need.

“When I make films, I tend to make it more entertaining,” said Lei Zhenchuan, a freshman film major. “Film can be based on happiness; if you’re having fun while making film, then people will have fun watching the product.”

During the Great Depression, films relevant to happier times were made in mass amounts.

Filmmakers though a happier film industry would undoubtedly lead to a happier populace. Films can stir up such passionate emotion, whether it’s intense anger or pure elation; filmmakers have the power to sway the audience in any which way they choose.

Filmmakers have a far-reaching influence, and like an octopus, they have several “tentacles” of power, which they can use to provoke human emotion and reaction; one tentacle may foster happiness, while another may reduce society to an angry mass. Though filmmakers may not necessarily have political power or the means to create permanent change, their power remains palpable based on their viewer’s responses.

“Filmmakers have a far-reaching influence, and like an octopus, they have several “tentacles” of power, which they can use to provoke human emotion and reaction”

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DIY: pinterest TRIAL and ERROR Text // Anna Lindgren

If you are anything like me, you’re familiar with the following Pinterest scenario: “Oh, that is such a clever and cute idea. I should totally make that!”

Repin.

Weeks go by… and still no action has been taken towards completing said craft, recipe, or DIY (do-it-yourself) project. It seems that the very act of re-pinning something is enough for some of us. We don’t actually have to make that t-shirt into a scarf because all our followers know that we think it’s a good idea, and that is good enough, right? Wrong. I am putting my money where my pins are and trying out the top five things that have been collecting virtual dust on my Pinspiration board.

For those of you who aren’t familiar with Pinterest, be thankful because you are probably spending your time much more productively.

Pinterest is essentially a social media website that takes the inspiration board online. You can take any image from any website or blog and “pin it” to one of your boards. Your followers can then “re-pin” if they like it too. Pins can be organized onto boards under categories such as fashion, books, travel, food, and crafts.

Now that you’re all caught up, let’s get crafty.

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Geometric wall art (abeautifulmess.com)

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1

Quote wall art

(abeautifulmess.com)

This one has been at the top of my list for a while. It’s a home decor idea that involves taking a blank canvas, painting over it with one solid color, placing vinyl adhesive letters on the paint, and painting over it in a different color. This way, the letters are left the original color and you have a cool, homemade piece of artwork. What you’ll need: a blank canvas (you can also use a large picture, like a landscape, if you want the letters to have a pattern), acrylic or block paint, a paintbrush, and adhesive letters in the size/font of your choice. I was able to find everything I needed at Blick, the art supply store near Fenway Park. The good thing about this project is that even if there are small imperfections, as there are in mine, it adds to the whole DIY look. You can choose a favorite quote from a musician or writer, or an anonymous one-liner from Pinterest itself. I went with, “The best is yet to be,” and chose Emerson colors (purple as the background, gold as the second layer). Overall this craft is fairly foolproof and came out looking pretty darn cool.

Okay, so I went a little crazy with the painting. This is another home decor idea for easy, yet interesting artwork for your apartment or dorm room. It’s even easier and faster than the first wall art project, and came out looking just as cool. What you’ll need: blank canvas, acrylic paint, a paintbrush, and painter’s tape. All you do is lay the blue painter’s tape down on the canvas in whatever pattern you want, creating shapes and sections of different sizes.

One thing I will stress about this craft is to make sure the tape is really secure by pressing it down with the edge of a credit card. That way the paint won’t bleed through the tape. Paint the sections whatever colors you want. I went with two colors, but you can choose however many you fancy. Once the sections are painted, remove the tape and voila! You have an eye catching art piece in less than twenty minutes.

YOUR arts & entertainment

3 MICROWAVE BROWNIES

(blogs.babble.com/family-kitchen)

This was one of the first things I ever re-pinned, and I’ve wanted to do it ever since. Basically, you take an old t-shirt, cut the sleeves off, cut the neckline down, and then tie the back straps together with a ribbon, making a loose fitting racerback shirt. This one definitely looked better online than it did in actuality. One thing I recommend for this craft is to use an oversized shirt to get that flowing look. Also, use hot glue on the ribbon so the knot won’t come undone.

The fact that I have the biggest sweet tooth in the world and never graduated from the Easy Bake Oven School of Baking made this next pin irresistible to try. What you’ll need: flour, cocoa powder, brown sugar, canola oil, a pinch of salt, milk, and a microwave safe mug to put it in. Mix all of the ingredients together into a thick paste with a fork and microwave on high for one minute. Unfortunately, this one didn’t work for me. I don’t know if my microwave wasn’t high-power enough or if I measured incorrectly, but I just ended up with a mug full of steaming hot brownie mixture (almost pudding). I was slightly disappointed, but also relieved at the fact that my diet wouldn’t suffer from an over-abundance of microwavable desserts.

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5 FABRIC NECKLACE (psimadethis.com)

T-SHIRT MODEL (briandcheesecrackers.tumblr.com)

This one requires the least amount of supplies. What you’ll need: some fabric, beads, and scissors. If you did the last craft, you can use the fabric scraps from that shirt for this. Cut your fabric into varying lengths, 4 to 8 thin strands depending on how chunky you want your necklace to be. String beads of your choice onto the fabric, in whatever pattern you want. Tie the ends together, and that’s it! This pin didn’t show the back of the necklace so I don’t know how it is supposed to be fastened.

I just made five separate single-strand necklaces and layered them together. This one was very easy, and also very cute. The best part about it is when people compliment you on it, you can say, “Oh, this? It’s just something I made.”

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cinema starter: the WORK of ANG LEE Text // Charles Nash

Ever wonder what it would be like if you woke up shipwrecked? Well, all right, Cast Away is over a decade old now and most of us have gotten over our denial of sobbing hysterically when Tom Hanks lost his precious volleyball at sea. However, what if you woke up marooned on a boat that’s also carrying an orangutan, a zebra, a hyena, and a tiger to top if off? That basically sums up the premise for director Ang Lee’s upcoming feature, Life of Pi, which is a big-screen adaptation of the best-selling 2001 novel written by Yann Martel.

The film will be released nationwide on December 14th, and is one of the most highly anticipated movies of the upcoming holiday season for both critics and audiences. It tells the story of Pi Patel (played by Suraj Sharma), a mature and intelligent sixteen-year-old boy that comes from a family of zookeepers. When his family decides to emigrate from India to Canada abroad a cargo ship carrying their beloved animals, Pi awakens to discover that he is the only survivor on board after a horrible accident, leaving him marooned with the creatures that inhabit the remaining part of the vessel.

There, he and the animals will embark on a desperate struggle for survival, determined to outlive this devastating disaster.

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Unfortunately, I’ve never read the universally acclaimed novel upon which the film is based, but I am quite familiar with the work of Ang Lee, who remains one of the most talented directors working in the world today. Not only does the man have a range that’s as wide as Jack Nicholson’s smile, but he also examines a variety of different themes within each of the styles that he explores. Whether he’s directing a film that focuses on two cowboys falling in love, or a comic-book movie an angry green giant that’s fucking shit up, Lee’s ambition, talent and passion for filmmaking is always evident on the screen.

To celebrate the arrival of his latest film, I decided to take a look back on three of Ang Lee’s masterworks.

These movies have become some of my all-time favorites; they each depict a form of deep theoretical insight into the societies of our world, as well as paint haunting portraits of the lost and vulnerable souls that inhabit it. By diving into the very core of what makes us human, Lee provides audiences with nakedly intimate views on what people fear, love, regret and embrace, regardless of the genre that the characters exist in.

YOUR arts & entertainment

THE ICE STORM (1997): Ang Lee may be a Taiwanese director, but his portrayal of two families that reside in a suburban Connecticut town during 1973 is one of the most powerfully accurate representations of American life that I’ve ever seen depicted on film. As the story begins, the Watergate hearings are being broadcasted throughout the nation, signifying the feelings of confusion, anger and anxiety that have corrupted the cultural developments throughout the country.

Kevin Kline and Joan Allen play Ben and Elena Hood, a couple which feel confined and suffocated by their marriage, as if their love for one another has transformed into something completely hollow. Once Ben begins having an affair with one of their neighbors, Janey Carver (played by Sigourney Weaver, in one of her most searing performances), everything within these people’s lives, as well as the lives of their children (played by Tobey Maguire, Christina Ricci and Elijah Wood) descends into a heartbreaking tragedy. As both sets of characters begin looking for ways to cope with their loneliness by experimenting with sex, drugs and alcohol, The Ice Storm compassionately illustrates how our states of psychological desolation can drive us to horribly unethical actions in order to feel a sense of connection with another human being, regardless of how painful the consequences may be.

CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON (2001): This exhilarating epic redefined martial-arts filmmaking, transcending the genre by providing fleshed-out characters, an enthralling story, and some of the most spectacularly gorgeous fight sequences you’ll ever see. Chow-Yun Fat gives a phenomenal performance as Li Mu Bai, a Wudang warrior in who’s planning on settling down from his life of swordplay, but his plans of retirement are drastically altered when a masked thief steals his legendary sword, known as “The Green Destiny”. Accompanying him on his pursuit to reclaim this beloved weapon is his good friend, Yu Shu Lien (wonderfully played

by Michelle Yeoh), who crosses paths with a teenager named Jen (the beautiful Zhang Ziyi) who’s a rebellious daughter to a wealthy governor. The cinematography is exquisite, the story is entirely compelling, and the scenes of martial-arts combat are not only thrilling, but also elegantly constructed, as if the characters are performing a graceful dance as opposed to viciously fighting. What makes this film truly resonate though, are the personal philosophies that drive these characters, which contribute to their motivations for violence and even more importantly, their rich, emotional growth.

This isn’t a movie in which the characters are merely defined as “good” or “bad”, they’re human, providing the film with more heart than any other martial-arts film I can recall.

BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN (2004): The film that deservedly earned Ang Lee an Oscar for Best Director, and the one that was also unfairly snubbed for Best Picture by Paul Haggis’ Crash. While I’m not a hater of that film by any means, it’s still ridiculous to me that this extraordinary love story didn’t walk away with the biggest award of that year. During one fateful summer in Wyoming, Ennis Del Mar (the late Heath Ledger, in the most poignant performance of his career) and Jack Twist (played magnificently by Jake Gyllenhaal) are hired to herd a farm of sheep up in the mountains. As they quickly become friends, the feelings that these men share for one another rapidly intensify, resulting in the two of them falling passionately in love. The movie is an earnestly intimate portrait of two people who have found the romance they desire in a world that cannot accept it, and is a massively important statement of how this is still being unfairly looked upon within our culture. Ennis and Jack are just people like anybody else, and their romance is more pure and heartfelt than just about every other heterosexual couple I’ve seen portrayed on film in the past decade. So, to everyone who still hasn’t seen it based on the fact that it focuses on a homosexual relationship, I have three little words for you: get over it.

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FILM:

lincoln on film

With the upcoming release of Steven Spielberg’s Lincoln, an historical epic about the sixteenth president, one facet of Daniel DayLewis’ performance has proven to be especially provocative: Day-Lewis’ Lincoln doesn’t emancipate the slaves with the deep, booming voice history seems to assign him. In fact, he does it in a voice scarcely lower than a tenor.

As an American political figure, Lincoln enjoys a colossal status, massive in scope. He’s a titanic figure in any discussion of American politics of the mid 1860s. As the leader of a divided country and a proponent of racial equality, the 21st century has perpetuated the vision of Lincoln as a bastion of certainty. He built the Republican Party, freed the slaves, and was assassinated before his plans for American restoration during Reconstruction could be completed. As he was taught to my Oklahoma kindergarten class, Abraham Lincoln was

tantamount to the towering grandfather of the American experience, the purveyor of the moral compass that freed the slaves, the stronghold of forward thinking equality. Washington set multiple presidential precedents, Hamilton engineered the financial system, Jefferson was the premier Renaissance man, but Abraham Lincoln was the superhero of American history.

But with the softer, historically accurate tone that Day-Lewis employs in Spielberg’s film, is Lincoln’s superhero status called into question? His voice is no longer the deep and earth-shattering baritone that has peppered my daydreams. A gifted orator he is still, just not as throaty. No matter how many times I watch a trailer or half-listen to a TV spot for the film, it takes me a few minutes to realize that the softer, aged voice that I can’t seem to place belongs to Lincoln, and even then it seems unnatural.

The implication of the higher-toned sixteenth

Text // Hunter Harris

is clear; Day-Lewis’s chosen pitch grounds Lincoln to mortal status. It’s there visually— the scraggly beard and wrinkles makes him look like a mere human—but the sound of Lincoln’s voice is aural proof; Abraham Lincoln, the emancipator of slaves and architect of Reconstruction, was no more immortal than any member of our current political system.

Today, where we idealize and allocate politicians and political climates of the past, the Lincoln Spielberg’s camera lens was privy to remains startlingly human. No matter how history has taught us to remember him, Abraham Lincoln was a man, with all of the complexities and flaws this status invites.

CULT FILM:

fist-ing with the rza Text // Jackson Birnbaum

Rarely does a movie come along that needs so little marketing as The Man with the Iron Fists. I mean, really: directed by RZA, who also did the score (along with a list of artists as long as my arm, including The Black fuckin' Keys). It was produced by Quentin Tarantino and co-written

by Eli Roth. RZA, Russell Crowe, and Lucy Liu star. Sex. Blood. Kung-fu. If you don't want to see this movie, I'm sorry to tell you, but you're already dead. Now, any other magazine would have a full review for you at this point, or maybe an interview. Well, we've got a review of the trailer.

So, the plot, as far as I can tell, is WHO THE FUCK CARES. I mean really, an eyeball is punched out of a head. I repeat: an eyeball,

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it is punched, out of a head. I guess the movie probably has something to do with gold or clans or fists made of metal. But seriously, Russell Crowe bangs many ladies and then Colossus from the X-Men shows up (colored like brass instead of silver, so it's different). Blood lingers in the air after a kill, tracking the trajectory of the body and the blade. RZA punches some motherfucker’s eye out. All of this to the bumping soundtrack of "Carry It", which RZA recorded with Travis Barker and Tom Morello. As far as a trailer goes, this has the effect of vodka and Redbull: gets you pumped and rowdy, but makes you feel a little dickish about enjoying it.

Though the movie itself very well may be a cluttered, disjointed, half-backed mess of a film,

it will certainly become your new favorite thing to watch while very drunk, teetering on the edge of blackout. And hell, it could even end up good, as long as Eli Roth stayed far away from it (his best contribution to the film world was a 3-minute faux-trailer that played out its joke by minute one). Anyway, The Man With the Iron Fists comes out November 2nd, so grab your coat with lots of pockets, stuff them all full of beer, and make your way down for the midnight screening (Editor's note: please don't actually do this.) Expect a full review up on the blog around then.

YOUR arts & entertainment

666 park avenue Text // Anthony Betances

ABC kicks off the fall season with an unconventional new addition to its Sunday night line-up.

Dave Annable and Rachael Taylor (formerly of ABC’s awardwinning drama Brothers & Sisters, and failed Charlie’s Angels reboot, respectively) star as Henry Martin and Jane Van Even, a young, unmarried couple from the Midwest, lured into the Big Apple with dreams of making a living in the promising big city.

The pair is drawn to the Drake, a swanky residence building on New York’s famed Upper East Side that boasts as much class as it does creepiness. After securing employment as the building’s Resident Managers – positions that enjoy the benefit of residence in one of the Drake’s most lavish apartments – Henry and Jane seem to have found success fairly quickly. But that which seems too good to be true often is, and the two are on track to discover this for themselves as Jane begins to uncover the history of the building and a series of supernatural happenings challenge the Drake’s tenants.

Much of 666 Park Avenue’s appeal can be directly attributed to the show’s veteran actors. Lost alum Terry O’Quinn’s dark charisma, paired with ex- Desperate Housewives star Vanessa Williams’ sultry voice and alpha attitude make them perfectly suited for their roles as Gavin and Olivia Doran. As the Drake’s mysterious landlords, the Dorans own more than just the building itself. The Drake’s tenants, desperate to achieve the dreams that once drew them to the city, succumb to Gavin Doran’s seduction and take part in deals that will forever alter their lives. Although not the devil himself (it would be egocentric to think that someone as busy as Satan would pre-occupy himself with the goingson of a few New York City rookies), Doran is certainly his henchman, diabolical enough to exploit the struggles of wellintentioned people and send them to Hell, quite literally, when those bound by contract find that they can’t live up to Doran’s demanding provisions.

Although the Dorans already have a plan for their new hires as well, it becomes obvious that it will only be revealed as the series develops. Their plans for the others, however, are not as distant. By introducing multiple tenants and sub-plots into the story, the series’ writers attempt to prevent the main plot from becoming boring. Even with the young protagonists oblivious to their compromising position, someone else is always subject to the danger of Gavin’s

clutches. In the opening scene, a talented violinist attempts to escape the deal that made him famous, until the Drake’s doors literally swallow him whole. Much later, a widower faces an internal conflict when he must decide between doing Gavin’s dirty work and keeping his deceased wife alive, or defying Gavin’s commands and losing not only his wife (for the second time), but his own life as well. Throughout the Pilot episode, the relationship between an emasculated playwright and his headstrong wife is explored. His disdain with a struggling career and sex life, as well as his interest in a young, blonde bombshell are all a clear indication of the trouble to come.

All in all, 666 Park Avenue seems to have the recipe for viewer interest, but not without its own kinks. The very elements that keep plot lines fresh could very well cost the series. FOX network’s House was a perfect example.

Viewers loved the medical mysteries and the antics of its misanthropic M.D. However, the repetitive formula (usually beginning with a patient suffering from some health issue, leading into House and his team continuously failing to diagnose and treat this condition until some sort of epiphany strikes and, by the closing hour, all is well) made it difficult for the series to maintain the same audience for more than a few seasons. Although House went on to survive through eight seasons, viewership consistently dwindled after its fourth season. It shrunk to only 8.69 million Americans in its final season, less than half of what it pulled in at its peak.

Despite what the future may hold for 666 Park Avenue, it is also already in the midst of a crisis with its own identity. Lead actors have likened it to horror films such as The Shining, Poltergeist, and Rosemary’s Baby, but the series fails to live up to that hype. The special effects, while not terrible, are simply unconvincing by today’s standards, and the “scary” scenes simply don’t succeed because of the time constraints of each roughly 40-minute episode. These scenes lack the suspense necessary to provoke goose bumps, and instead push the boundaries dangerously towards “cheesy” territory. If 666 Park Avenue plans to succeed, ABC must work on finding the middleground between dramatic thriller and silly soap opera, or risk sending its newest series where its past tenants have gone – to Hell.

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Text // Caroline Cassard

BOOK REVIEW J. K. Rowling’s The Casual Vacancy J. K. Rowling’s first adult novel could have been about British farm animals and I’d still have bought it. The Casual Vacancy hadn’t even made its way onto the shelf when I ran down Boylston to claim a copy.

The story begins in the fictional town of Pagford with Barry Fairbrother’s unexpected death, and it rapidly grows darker. As a leader of Pagford’s town council, his passing incites social unrest as his peers compete for the open position.

In only 500 pages, Rowling tackles an endless combination of small town crises in Pagford, ranging from uncomfortable dinner parties and harmful gossip to domestic abuse, drug addictions and social class segregation. Take Stuart Wall for instance, known by his friends as Fats. The high school principle is his father, the guidance counselor his mother, and his secret girlfriend is the result of a broken, drug-ridden home. If this doesn’t sound melodramatic enough, his father places his family in the limelight as he runs for Barry’s empty council position.

Perhaps because the Harry Potter series spanned over seven books and allowed for more

than four thousand pages to develop an entire wizarding world, creating and concluding a web of characters in only one novel was a challenge Rowling couldn’t resist. Not normally one to list characters while reading for pleasure, I had to map out the nine couples, their children, and their intertwining affairs, acquaintances and professions to successfully follow the constant leaps from one household to another.

Skeptical at first of Rowling’s seemingly impossible task of developing a purpose for each character, I was able (with my Post-It note of names and arrows) to keep up. Just to name a few, there’s Gavin, who can’t commit to a relationship, Samantha, a housewife driven crazy by a smalltown life she never agreed to, and Parminder, a doctor who finds it difficult to care for patients who double as her worst social enemies. Slow to start, the story finally picks up pace in the last 200 pages as various characters’ secrets intersect.

What I love about Rowling’s art of storytelling is the best part of The Casual Vacancy: the workmanship behind her entangled world of characters and the way she ties every last detail

together. Fans of Rowling’s style and those who, like me, would read anything she publishes should give The Casual Vacancy a chance. But if you’re looking for an effortlessly engaging new novel, I might suggest something else.

Text // Nick Johnston

COMICS CORNER Womanthology

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Let’s face an awful truth: the comic book world, wrongly, has always been a man’s world, especially when it comes to the Big Two . DC’s received the brunt of public criticism in the past several years, mainly for how badly they botched their “New 52” relaunch -- among other controversies, their percentage of female writers out of the total number dropped from 12% before the event to a grand total of 1% afterwards. Neither publisher is truly blameless when it comes to gender, especially when they continue to publish the same old drivel month after month. Over-sexualized depictions of the female form, a lack of women (especially racially-diverse ones) on the major superhero teams, and a garish reliance on rape or sexual assault as a form of plot development. These problems blight the pages of otherwise great writers, and as if they’d contracted a disease that automatically made them into assholes. It seems that the people at the top

don’t realize that diversity helps the quality of the product every month, or don’t believe it exists in the comics world in any meaningful way.

Thankfully, things are continuing to change and evolve, especially online and in the pages of indie books. This year, the industry’s taken a huge step forward with the release of Womanthology: Heroic, the first installment in a series of lady writer-centric anthologies. Featuring work from Fiona Staples (whose amazing work on Saga I wrote about in these pages last year), Gail Simone, Ming Doyle and Barbra Kesel, among many others, Womanthology has two focuses: to celebrate the women who make up such a small portion of the industry, and to inspire and give confidence to those who wish to draw, write or edit. It was crowd-funded by 2,000 contributors via Kickstarter, and was picked up for publication by IDW, a publisher typically known for their Transformers, G.I Joe, and Doctor Who

comics. And they published the shit out of it: the volume itself is huge and beautiful, containing the same immersive properties that an IMAX screen does when you’ve only watched movies on TV. The quality of the stories themselves vary a bit (I definitely prefer some more than others), but they’re each possessed by the same can-do spirit that can be found within the best of the form.

Heroic costs $50, and hit the stands earlier this year. It’s incredibly worth the investment, and most of the proceeds will be going to benefit The Global Giving Foundation. If that’s a bit too much for you, IDW is currently publishing Womanthology: Space as a five-issue miniseries. Issues one and two are already out, and the third should be coming out this month. I know I’ll be supporting this through whatever endeavors they pursue, and I hope you do too. Let’s make this nerdy world a little friendlier for all.

YOUR arts & entertainment

studio art: NOT READY to MAKE NICE

Text // Cedrine Streight Photography // AP

Guerrilla Girls in the Art World and Beyond

While strolling through the Museum of Fine Arts, one is not immediately struck by the vast number of nudes captured in the finely sculpted marble and ferociously painted canvases. For centuries the female body has been used as a basis for exploring the intimate balance of light and shadow, and to evoke beauty. Some pieces have glorified woman’s curves while other have distorted and objectified them in the name of erotica. Though playing an instrumental role as subjects, it is shocking to find out that only a mere 11% of the artists displayed at the museum are female. More disturbing though, is learning that this is a better reality in comparison to other galleries and museums within the country.

Such provoking truths have been unveiled by the exuberant exhibition Not Ready to Make Nice, Guerrilla Girls in the Art world and Beyond at the Montserrat Gallery nestled in the quaint suburb of Beverly, Massachusetts. On view from August 25 till December 15, 2012, this multimedia exhibition depicts and contextualizes the historical and ongoing work of a highly influential group of artists, the Guerrilla Girls.

Established in the mid-80s, this anonymous, feministactivist collective of artists have continuously championed feminism and social change. Appearing in gorilla masks and assuming the name of dead female artists, they aim to reveal the prejudice in the art world and expose discriminatory practices.

The exhibition invites the viewer to see a showcase of some of the activist’s influence around the globe. At large it can be seen how this group of artists have combated the small collection of individuals that control the thinking of art curators and publications, unmasking the art industry as one of the least regulated and most secretive sectors alive.

Through their editorial coverage voice, the Guerrilla Girls uncover what many female artists experience today. Conveyed through satirical pieces as Irish Toast, the harsh reality of women artists is exposed. Though “heard of but rarely seen,” women artists in general are truly, as depicted in Venice in Biennale, “M.I.A. – missing in art.”

Horror on the National Mall, functions as a mirror to such pieces, demanding equality and release of these artists work from locked basements.

The multimedia exhibit is reminiscent of Japanese environmental artist, Yayoi Kusama. An amalgamation of two different cultures and a double minority, Kusama has continuously

attempted to break barriers and challenge the viewer’s perception of the world around them through her boisterous installations. The photographic study Walking Piece (1966), depicts the artist walking across Manhattan wearing a traditional Japanese kimono and carrying a flowery umbrella. Similar to the Guerilla Girls work, this panorama functions as an illustration of Kusama’s address of barriers as isolation and inequality, and her attempt to break them in a larger social context.

Similar to the dissident artists and musicians from Pussy Riot, known to wear balaclavas during performances and interview, the Guerrilla Girls wear gorilla masks to confound the stereotype of what women look like and as a means to stand up and take action towards social change. However, these gorilla masks are worn not only as a declaration of their outsider status but also during the (often illegal) installation of their work, which is commonly placed around the walls and even bathrooms of various museums worldwide.

Despite world recognition, the Guerrilla Girls have received a vast and varied amount of responses. As displayed in their piece Love and Hate Letters this feminist activist group has been accused to have done everything from “abusing [their] own gender” to being praised by fellow activists like Gloria Steinem as “symbols [of] the best of feminism, celebrating women’s uniqueness.”

Though the Guerilla Girls have a unique voice, they continuously look towards members of the larger community to achieve equality in all realms. Such efforts are illustrate through the incorporation of pieces like I Am Not a Feminist But… where the viewer is invited to contribute their thoughts to the ongoing conversation. It is apparent that though many men and women believe in the canon of feminism – equal opportunity and human rights – many shy away from the “f-word.” Through such pieces, the Guerilla Girls aim to show that it does not matter what you call yourself as long as you “complain loudly and creatively” about current prejudiced practices.

No matter how one may feel, it cannot be denied that the Guerrilla Girls, now approaching three decades of anonymity, allows one to take a glimpse into the mind of the female activist. Truly allowing one to see the challenges encountered, over come and are still left to be tackled by this artistic activist collective and other contemporaries.

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fighting hip-hop HOMOPHOBIA with MACKLEMORE Text // Miles Bowe Photography // AP

Hip-hop has an issue with homosexuality. No one is surprised by that statement, it’s not an elephant in the room anymore, and in fact these days it seems almost redundant to say it. The problem was so perfectly demonstrated this summer. It was a season that began with Frank Ocean’s empathetic statement right before the release of his can’t-be-fucked-with channel ORANGE and was punctuated with the usual dumb homophobic crap you’d expect, this time coming from Lil Wayne --directly about Ocean. But despite that backlash this has been one of the most interesting and progressive years for hip-hop. While the major statement came from Ocean, some of the most subversive and touching lyrics of the year came from a Seattle rapper by the name of Ben Haggerty, though he’s known better to the world as Macklemore.

Haggerty has, in the last year, been covered heavily by such a bizarre range of publications, from NPR’s coverage of the progay “Same Love” (more on that later) to being included on XXL’s (basically the Rolling Stone of hip-hop) “Freshman Class 2012” issue, the annual feature on the best new rappers out there. But what makes Haggerty such a fascinating new artist is how he manages to impress on every level. It’s not just that he writes thought provoking songs often about the hip-hop community or has an unbelievable flow; he has come into the public’s focus so fully formed and strong. His music videos, shot independently, could be short films, a premium example being his video for “Wings”, and others should be public service announcements, like the “Same Love” video.

The sense of warmth and nostalgia in his music is reassuring, plus he’s really damn funny -- just look at the video for “Thrift Shop.”

Often sharing billing with his producer under the moniker Macklemore X Ryan Lewis, the two are coming to Boston’s House of Blues on November 15th on a tour that has begun with little hype, but I bet will end with Macklemore becoming a major voice in hip-hop.

The duo got attention last year with the music video “Wings,” which worked as both a nostalgic endorsement and an

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indictment of the sneaker obsession that the two grew up around.

However, the song to get them the most attention has been the first single off their upcoming debut The Heist, “Same Love.” The song got a major endorsement from NPR’s All Songs Considered this summer and it’s not hard to see why. Haggerty raps with a steady flow, but in a soft spoken tone that immediately gets your attention. He describes his own childhood confusion about hearing the term “gay,” and then goes on to tie mainstream hip-hop and right-wing evangelists into the same prejudice camp. It’s all carried by Mary Lambert uplifting hook, “And I can’t change, even if I tried, even if I wanted to.”

The recently released music video for “Same Love” has the usual high quality expected from the team, but takes the spotlight off of Haggerty for the first time in their videos in order to tell a focused story. The video follows the life of a gay man, from birth to death.

Along the way it covers his difficult teenage years, synching perfectly with one of the songs saddest and best lyrics, “If I was gay, I would think that hip-hop hates me.” The video continues to show a love story that culminates in a dreamlike wedding (Haggerty’s appearance amounts to a cameo in the audience). After getting so much initial attention for their fantastic music videos the two seem to only have set the bar higher. What keeps Macklemore from coming across as overly preachy (which he certainly does sometimes) is his tremendous sense of sincerity and empathy for his subjects, and this music video exemplifies that better than anything he’s done so far.

Looking back on 2012, it could be remembered as the year that hip-hop finally started reflecting on this issue. With artists like Ocean and Haggerty making such emotional statements and having people respond to them, the usual homophobia in hip-hop not only sounds close minded, it sounds boring and redundant. With artists taking stances that people are responding positively to, the tides look to be changing. In the meantime let’s hope we get an album’s worth of songs as good as “Same Love” when Macklemore’s album comes out.

YOUR arts & entertainment

the playlist: SOUND & VISION Text // A&E Staff

Here at the Your Mag A&E Headquarters, we never actually watch any television, go to the movies, or play any video games. This is, of course, because we hate art and don’t want to have anything to do with it. In fact, our editor will be holding a picket of the latest Twilight movie at the end of the month, not for political or satirical reasons, but because he just doesn’t like those moving picture shows (he prefers shadow puppets around a cave fire). Just kidding! Here’s a list of our favorite tracks from movies, TV shows and video games from this year, and a few older songs sprinkled in for good measure. Also, when you head home for Thanksgiving break, enjoy some sort of art in your hometown! Maybe volunteer at a soup kitchen before you do, too, and do something besides wash some already-clean plates. In short, enjoy this awesome playlist and don’t be Paul Ryan.

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“Against the Ninja” Dragon Sound

(The Miami Connection)

“Tears” HEALTH

(May Payne 3)

“Burn”

The Cure (The Crow)

“Skyfall” Adele

(Skyfall)

“Heroes”

David Bowie (The Perks of Being a Wallflower)

“Le Temps de L’amour” Francoise Hardy

(Moonrise Kingdom)

“Cat People (Putting Out Fire)” David Bowie (Cat People (‘82), Ingluorious Basterds)

“Spongebob & Patrick Confront the Psychic Wall of Energy” The Flaming Lips

9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

“Short Change Hero” The Heavy

(Borderlands 2)

“Feel it All Around” Washed Out (Portlandia)

“Going to Acapulco”

Jim James and the Calexico (I’m Not There)

“Anthems for a Seventeen Year Old Girl” Broken Social Scene (Scott Pilgrim)

“Fight the Power” Public Enemy

(Do The Right Thing)

“Hard Times” Baby Huey (JCVD)

“White Light/White Heat” The Bootleggers ft. Mark Lanegan (Lawless)

“Crucity Your Mind” Rodriguez

(Searching for Sugar Man)

17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

“You Only Live Twice” Nancy Sinatra

(You Only Live Twice/Mad Men)

“Dancing On My Own” Robyn (Girls)

“Reckoner” Radiohead (Choke)

“Take this Waltz” Leonard Cohen (Take this Waltz)

“Panic”

The Smiths (Shaun of the Dead)

“Someone Great” LCD Soundsystem

(Shut Up and Play the Hits)

“Strange Love” Karen O

(Frankenweenie)

“A Real Hero”

College ft. Electric Youth (Drive)

(The Spongebob Squarepants Movie)

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